RAF Honington

RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located in Suffolk, England, approximately 6 miles south of Thetford. Construction of the airfield began in 1935, and it officially opened on 3 May 1937. Initially, it served as a bomber station for RAF Bomber Command, hosting squadrons equipped with Hawker Harts, Vickers Wellesleys, Handley Page Heyfords, Handley Page Harrows, and Vickers Wellingtons. Notably, IX Squadron, based at Honington, flew the first RAF bombing raid of the Second World War on 4 September 1939.

In June 1942, the airfield was transferred to the USAAF and upgraded to a Class A Bomber base, designated Station 375. It served as the 1st Strategic Air Depot for the repair of damaged B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. From February 1944, the 364th Fighter Group, operating Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and later North American P-51 Mustangs, was also stationed here, conducting escort, dive-bombing, strafing, and patrol missions over Europe. RAF Honington was the last USAAF station to be returned to the RAF in February 1946.

Following its return to RAF control, Honington was used by RAF Transport Command, supporting the Berlin Airlift. It was transferred to RAF Bomber Command in 1949 and a 9,000 ft concrete runway was completed in 1956. From 1955 to 1957, it housed English Electric Canberra bomber squadrons, and from 1956, it became a V bomber base for Vickers Valiants and Handley Page Victors. In the late 1960s, it hosted Hawker Siddeley (Blackburn) Buccaneer bombers and later became a base for the Panavia Tornado fleet in the 1980s, with IX(B) Squadron being the world's first operational Tornado squadron.

Since 1994, RAF Honington has served as the RAF Regiment depot, relinquishing its primary flying role. Its mission is to deliver Air Force Protection Capability for the RAF and Defence. The station is the single hub for RAF Force Protection, housing the RAF Regiment Headquarters and the RAF Police Headquarters. It provides initial and advanced training for members of the RAF Regiment and specialist training for the RAF's Force Protection capability. Current units include Headquarters Air Security Force, No. 1 RAF Police & Security Wing, No. 3 (Tactical) Police Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force), Counter Intelligence and Security Squadron, RAF Police Headquarters, Headquarters Combat and Readiness Force, No. 7 Force Protection Wing, No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) Regiment, RAF Regiment Training Wing, and RAF Force Protection Centre. The station also hosts the RAF Regiment Heritage Centre.